Police officers work at the scene after a knife attack, June 8, 2023 in Annecy, French Alps. (PHOTO / AP)
PARIS – A man on Thursday stabbed people with a knife in a park in the city of Annecy, southeast France, injuring several people, including nursery children, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin confirmed.
While speaking to the press with French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, the Annecy prosecutor said there was no "apparent terrorist motive" at the current stage of investigation.
"The motive remains to be determined," the prosecutor said, adding that investigation was opened for "attempted murder."
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said the suspect had no criminal record and was not on the surveillance list of the intelligence service
The prosecutor confirmed that six people were severely injured and at present, three victims are in life-threatening condition.
READ MORE: Man shot dead by police after wielding knife in Sydney
Among the injured were four children and two of them were foreign nationals, one Dutch and one British, according to the prosecutor.
The suspect, homeless, has refugee status obtained in Sweden ten years ago, the prosecutor noted.
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said the suspect had no criminal record and was not on the surveillance list of the intelligence service.
In a press release, the Prefecture of Haute-Savoie said the attack, which took place Thursday morning, injured a total of six people, including two adults and four nursery children.
ALSO READ: Families traumatized by Thailand attack cling to slain children's toys
A police source told French news channel BFMTV that the victims were all severely injured, while two children and one adult were in life-threatening condition.
Flowers lay at the playground after a knife attack, June 8, 2023 in Annecy, French Alps. (PHOTO / AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron called the act an "attack of absolute cowardice."
"Children and one adult are between life and death. The nation is in shock," he added on his social media.